Frog with closable wheel over-run

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a switch point comprising a rigid frog point, rigid wing rails, filler means in the interstice between the frog point and wing rails, said filler means being mounted in vertically extending guide means, and wedge means for raising and lowering said filler means.

ilite States atem [191 Dolise et al.

[ Dec. 31, 1974 FROG WITH CLOSABLE WHEEL OVER-RUN Inventors: Ruthard Dohse, Essen-Bredeney;

Curt Edeling, Essen-Rellinghausen; Josef Eisnmann, both of Munchen, all of Germany Assignee: Elektro-Thermit GmbH, Berlin,

Germany Filed: Oct. 15, 1971 Appl. No.: 189,603

Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 24, 1970 Germany 2052349 us. Cl. 246/435 Int. Cl EOlb 7/10 Field of Search 246/435-444,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l,49l,467 4/1924 Dixon 246/442 2,948,497 8/1960 Higgs.... 246/380 3,099,427 7/l963 Brown i. 246/435 3,697,747 10/1972 Edeling et al 246/468 Primary Examiner-Lloyd L. King Assistant ExaminerRichard Ar B'ertsch Attorney, Agent, or Firm.lames E. Bryan [57] ABSTRACT This invention relates to a switch point comprisinga rigid frog point, rigid wing rails, filler means in the interstice between the frog point and wing rails, said filler means being mounted in vertically extending guide means, and wedge means for raising and lowering said filler means.

7 Claims, Drawing Figures PAIENTEU mica: I974 SHEET 1 BF 2 l FROG WITH CLOSABLE WHEEL OVER-RUN The present invention relates to a switch point with a rigid frog point and rigid wing rails wherein there are arranged, in the interstice between the frog point and the wing rails, filler members or fairings positioned so as to be adapted to be lifted or raised up. The actuating mechanism thereof is so coupled with the actuating mechanism of the switch point that the filler members or fairings are lifted up to the level of the wing rail in the respectively blocked direction and form or constitute, together with the wing rail and the frog point, a continuously-extending wheel guide and, in the respec tive direction which is free, are lowered outside of the area of the rim or flange of the wheels.

The high speeds and great axial loads required of rail vehicles for reasons of economics can be negotiated within the switch point area only if the gap between the frog point and the wing rail is closed. If not, jolts in the horizontal and vertical directions will ensue and lead to a high'degree of wear and tear, and possibly to operational hazards.

In order to obviate these phenomena, a movable frog has been constructed, the disadvantage of which resides in that a great amount of force is required in order to bend or deflect the frog point with the connecting rails at the time of change-over into the desired direc tion of travel. Depending upon the starting position, there also will arise in this case deviations in the straight or in the uniformly bent extension of the inner or running rail edge.

It is further known to arrange or dispose the branching rail in a bridge-like manner over the track of the main or primary rail. While this method allows for traveling on or negotiating the main or primary rail without reduction in speed with a good handling of the vehicle, it has the disadvantage that the branching rail can be traveled on with only slightly better than walking speed since the wheel must execute various vertical movements during a short path.

The present invention therefore is based on the goal or object of developing a frog which can be traveled on or negotiated at high speed both in the direction of the main or primary rail and in the direction of the branching rail.

This object is attained, in accordance with the present invention, by virtue of the fact that the filler members or fairings are arranged in a vertically extending guide and are adapted to be lifted and/or lowered in the vertical direction and locked in the closed position thereof by means of wedges in the form of an inclined plane and can be slid under and/or retracted. The filler members or fairings and/or wedges are locked preferably by means of a bolt adapted to be inserted at a right angle to the direction of thrust of the wedge in order to.

prevent any displacement of the tiller members of fairings and of the wedges in the-end position thereof under the traffic load rolling thereover. The beginning and end of the over-run region of the tiller members or fairings are preferably lowered to a slight degree with respect to the connecting traveling surfaces of the frog point and the wing rails so as to assure an over-run of the wheels which is as free from jolts or vibrations as possible. The gliding surfaces and, respectively, the guide paths of the tiller members or fairings and of the wedges are arranged horizontally, or vertically, or inclined in a manner such that an automatic locking will set in. The gliding surfaces of the filler members or fairings, of the wedges and of the guides are suitably provided with a maintenance-free, friction-reducing, elastically-acting plastic coating, preferably with a per fluoroethylene coating or layer. For purposes of the setting-up, and/or compensation of the eventual wear and tear of the filler members or fairings and of the wedges, the filler members or fairings and the wedges may be adjustably disposed in the end position thereof with the aid of an adjusting device. In order to reduce wear and tear, the highly stressed parts of the tiller members or fairings and of the wedges preferably may consist of a high-strength, martensitically-hardened, ductile nickel steel. The control relative to the movement and locking of the tiller members or fairings and of the wedges is coupled with that for the change-over and locking of the tongue device in the end position thereof, preferably electronically.

The advantages obtained with the aid of the present invention reside in that the frog construction such as described herein allows for and renders possible a traveling or negotiation at the highest speeds and under great axial loads free from impactsand vibrations. Such a frog may be installed in existing switch points, if the latter are intended to be traveled on or negotiated at increased speeds. Particularly, it is possible to close the gap between the frog point and the wing rail only in the main or primary rail with the aid of a filler member or fairing, if exclusively the main or primary. rail is intended to be traveled upon at the highest speed free from impacts and vibrations. Added thereto is the fact that, if need be, the frog may be traveled upon or negotiated slowly as a conventional frog without inserted wedges, which is not possible in the case of frogs having a movable point.

One embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the frog of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along line AA of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along line C-C of FIG. 1.

The spot or place that is without guide between the frog point 1 and the wing rails 2 and 3 is closed by means of filler members or fairings 4 and 5 which are adapted to be displaced with respect to the height thereof. On the underside, the filler members or fair ings 4 and 5 being provided with an inclination are supported against the wedges 6 and 7 which have the same inclination. The filler members or fairings d and 5 and the wedges 6 and 7 are connected with each other by a forcible or positiveguide, preferably by means of the dovetail guides 8 and 9. When the wedges 6 and 7, which are driven by either pneumatic or hydraulic or electrical thrust elements, are advanced and/or retracted, the filler members or fairings 4 and 5 will, of necessity, be lifted or raised up and/0r lowered, thereby either closing and/or opening the guideless spot between the frog point 1 and the wing rails 2 and/or 3. In order to prevent a displacement of the filler members of fairings 4 and 5 in the longitudinal direction, nose portions engage in the grooves 10 and Ill of the wing rails 2 and 3. The wedges 6 and 7 similarly are provided with a groove-like guide 12 and 13 which prevent a vertical movement. The filler member or fairing being positioned in the main traveling direction is equipped with a projection 14.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications.

What is claimed is:

1. A switch point comprising a rigid frog point, rigid wing rails, filler means in the interstice between the frog point and wing rails, said filler means being mounted in vertically extending guide means, and wedge means for raising and lowering said filler means.

2. A switch point according to claim 1 in which the beginning and the end of the over-run area of said filler means are slightly lowered with respect to the connecting traveling surfaces of said frog point and said wing rails.

3. A switch point according to claim 1 in which the mating surfaces of the filler means and the wedge means are so disposed that automatic locking occurs.

4. A switch point according to claim 1 in which sliding surfaces of said filler means and said wedge means are provided with a friction-reducing, elasticallyacting, plastic coating.

5. A switch point according to claim 4 in which the plastic coating is perfluoroethylene.

6. A switch point according to claim 1 including adjusting means for compensating for wear of said filler means and said wedge means. v

7. A switch point according to claim 1 in which highly stressed parts of said filler means and said wedge means are made from high-strength, martensitically hardened, ductile nickel steel. 

1. A switch point comprising a rigid frog point, rigid wing rails, filler means in the interstice between the frog point and wing rails, said filler means being mounted in vertically extending guide means, and wedge means for raising and lowering said filler means.
 2. A switch point according to claim 1 in which the beginning and the end of the over-run area of said filler means are slightly lowered with respect to the connecting traveling surfaces of said frog point and said wing rails.
 3. A switch point according to claim 1 in which the mating surfaces of the filler means and the wedge means are so disposed that automatic locking occurs.
 4. A switch point according to claim 1 in which sliding surfaces of said filler means and said wedge means are provided with a friction-reducing, elastically-acting, plastic coating.
 5. A switch point according to claim 4 in which the plastic coating is perfluoroethylene.
 6. A switch point according to claim 1 including adjusting means for compensating for wear of said filler means and said wedge means.
 7. A switch point according to claim 1 in which highly stressed parts of said filler means and said wedge means are made from high-strength, martensitically hardened, ductile nickel steel. 